Bacterial Disease Overview

Gram Positive Pathogenic Bacteria - Mycoplasmas

Lack:

• cytochromes, krebs cycle enzymes, cell wall 

Key points:

• gram positive (but gram stain is pink), low G+C
• cell membranes contain sterols, therefore no need for cell wall
• no cell wall means mycoplasmas are pleomorphic

Inhabit: mucous membranes

• respiratory tract
• mycoplasma pneumoniae - pneumonia - treated with macrolides (inhibit protein synthesis)
• mycoplasma mycoides - contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (animal pneumonia)
• urinary tract = mycoplasma genitalium - STD

Diagnosis:

• fluorescent antibody technique, pap techniques, pcr
• antibiotic susceptibility tests
• serological tests - ELISA, agglutination